pagans, do you worship your gods, or honour them?

Question

And is there a difference?

Answer 1

i think there's a difference between worshipping and honoring. my gods detest unquestioning worship, but they don't mind a little flattery. worship implies subjugation, unquestioning submission to an authority, but that is contrary to the journey toward enlightenment. if you accept the absolute authority of a god, you are not learning the lessons his mythos offers. by honoring them, you acknowledge that they can teach you the lessons you need to advance on your journey. they want you to learn and join them.

Answer 2

I do both. The two are so close to the same that there is almost no noticable differance, at least in the way that I do them. There are those that have completely different and seperate rituals for worship and for honouring. It is all dependant on the person, the path, and the choices that they have made regarding their beliefs.

Answer 3

The basic definition of Worship is to show great respect... I believe that is honoring them. So it *can* mean the same thing in that context. Though you can most certainly honor someone without Worshipping them - such as honoring your parents. You show them respect because of who they are, but it's not worship you are doing. So it depends on how you do it and to what magnitude one honors another. Honoring the Gods, to me, Is a form a worship.

Answer 4

I don't worship in the traditional or technical sense of the word. Everything I do is sacred, and I do honor the deithe'.
To me, there is a difference. Worship implies a sense of greater and less than.. honoring does not have that same connotation (although it can for some).
My relationship with them is symbiotic... therefore a partnership, rather than one being superior to the other.

Answer 5

I see deities as being symbols and archetypes, not as real beings.

I will occasionally invoke or honor a certain energy type that I want to recognize or bring into my life, such a a mother energy, a guidance energy, a warrior energy, or a healing energy, and will imagine an embodiment of that energy. But to me they are only symbols for things and not the things themselves, which I have to do myself.

I suppose you could label this behavior as anything you like... but if I worship anything, I worship life itself, not a singular personality. And my place in it.

Answer 6

Honor is Worship in a way, but they are different. Some Worship, while others Honor, It depends on the persons personal beleifes.

Answer 7

I respect nature and admire the things it has accomplished. I have not seen any evidence of a specific God or Goddess so I neither worship or honor specific beings.
I would think worshipping would involve performing specific rituals/rites. Honoring would involve randomly doing something to 'honor' a specific deity-something he or she liked.

Answer 8

Mostly honour. And yes there is a difference. For those who don't know the difference, check the dictionary.

Answer 9

I honor the Goddess of creation and her companions. I honor the ancients and the spirits that walk with us. I worship none. All things should be revered in their own right and none should be higher than the other. All are equal. Each receiving their own praise and respect for their individual aspects they contribute to my life.
Blessed be and Peace

Answer 10

I have done both - worshiping to me seems to be a more active stance... such as when you do ritual or spell work (depending on what you are doing) whereas honoring is simple and requires no action only thought or words.